CHICAGO: Lohri festival was celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm at American Business Community of Desis (ABCD) on Saturday, January 24 at Cascade Banquets, Bensenville, a northwest suburb of Chicago
More than 200 people attended the function, the inclement weather notwithstanding.
Lohri was celebrated with traditional bonfire, tappes, and songs suitable for the occasion. ABCD members witnessed a lively night of blazing bonfire. The purpose of this festivity was also to launch ABCD to help the Indian Business Community promote their business.
Lohri function is celebrated in North India in winter in the month of January. Families get together around a bonfire to celebrate Lohri of the new born and newly married and eat foods such as dates, peanuts, bhuga (traditional Indian sweet and made of milk products) good for health during the winter season. Lohri festival is celebrated throughout India and even in foreign lands.
The emcee for the evening Gauri Mittal did a marvelous job keeping alive the interest of the audience throughout the program. The traditional Indian food was served by Cascade Banquets Owner Joginder Singh.
The evening was remarkable for its cross-generational appeal, the little kids enjoying learning about Punjabi heritage and culture through arts and crafts coordinated by Ritu Mehta and Saurabh Mehta.
Shammi Mittal welcomed the guests and explained that the American Business Community of Desis is a brand new organization and has been established to help business folks from Indian origin serve the community and grow their businesses. The Organization is going to provide a common platform to all service providers and seekers to drive maximum benefits for one another.
Ladies group lead by Anshu Paul did Jago and Gidda (Punjabi folk dance), traditionally dressed ladies danced through the hall carrying a gaggar (pot) decorated with lighted candles and singing jaago song. Special tappaas or to be specific, Punjabi verses were performed by the ladies to mark the day. DL Sahil Bhatti kept the melodious music and dhol beats that could not stop folks to start Bhangra.
Mahijit Singh Virdi, a versatile local singer, delighted the audience with Punjabi and popular melodies and fast dancing Hindi and Punjabi songs for almost an hour. He sang Eh thewa mundri da thewa, tare gin gin yaad and Dil chori sada ho gaya of Hans Raj Hans. Chief Guests Dr Harjinder Khaira, Rosey Bhasin and Ashok Laxmanan enjoyed Virdi’s songs,
Vote of thanks was provided by Neeraj Malik. Ramesh Malhan, secretary of United Punjabis of America (UPA), a sister organization of ABCD, also spoke about the upcoming potential of ABCD to help the Indian business community.
Following are the Executive Committee members: Naveen Kukreja, Jatin Khurana, Saurabh Mehta, Ritu Dhiman, Gauri Mittal and Yaznish Sabharwal. Board of Directors & Advisory Committee: Shammi Mittal, Neeraj Malik, Rosey B.
Asian Media USA
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